A new beginning for Orlovo Selište: Opening the river arm to revive ecosystems!

Want to know how to improve the ecological conditions of Europe's largest contiguous floodplain forests? Read more about how the LIFE RESTORE for MDD project is reconnecting a branch of the River Drava to restore the natural flow of water.

The LIFE RESTORE 4 MDD project focuses on conserving and restoring the largest contiguous riparian forests in the UNESCO five-country transboundary reserve Mura-Drava-Danube, which includes parts of Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia, all part of the European Green Belt. A key activity is the opening of a branch of the Drava River at Orlovo Selište, Lukač Municipality, Croatia. A barrier in the upstream part of the river arm will be removed, as well as embankments at the entrance and exit, and the river arm will be desilted.

In 2024, external experts conducted a baseline survey of the river arm, focusing on habitat condition, target species and other flora and fauna. The survey found differences in physico-chemical parameters, species numbers and phytoplankton abundance on the river arm before and after the barrier. 

Depending on rainfall, flooding and groundwater levels, the section upstream of the barrier has little flow, leading to significant siltation and potential anoxia. This disrupts habitat conditions for freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrates, which are important food sources for amphibians and birds. The section after the barrier has continuous flow, higher oxygen levels and supports more species. Opening the arm of the river will reconnect two parts of the river and restore the natural flow of water.

The results of the baseline survey are crucial for future research and monitoring of the Orlovo selište branch, as it will provide a good comparison of the biodiversity and ecological condition of the branch before and after restoration. It is also a good indicator for the future of what needs to be done and how to do it in order to improve ecological conditions. The project " LIFE RESTORE for MDD – Preserving and restoring floodplain forest habitats along the Mura-Drava-Danube rivers " involves 17 partners from 5 countries: Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary and Serbia. The project will last for 5 years (from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2028) with a total budget of €20,024,000 and is co-funded by the European Union (67%) from the LIFE programme 2021-2027.

 

To learn more about the project and the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Parts of Nature and the Ecological Network of Virovitica Podravina County you can visit https://virovitica-nature.hr/ or https://www.amazon-of-europe.com/projects/life-restore-for-mdd/life-restore-for-mdd-restoration-measures/